Police unions band together, censure town

Friday

Nov 30, 2007 at 12:01 AMNov 30, 2007 at 9:00 AM

The Massachusetts Municipal Police Coalition formed in January, and its first public act took place this month. It censured the town of Lexington for what it believes was bad-faith bargaining with the Lexington Police Association union, and for the town’s firing of union president Michael Rizzo.

Ian B. Murphy

The Massachusetts Municipal Police Coalition formed in January, and its first public act took place this month. It censured the town of Lexington for what it believes was bad-faith bargaining with the Lexington Police Association union, and for the town’s firing of union president Michael Rizzo.

The MMPC represents more than 800 officers, said Jay Babcock, a Newton police officer who serves on the group’s board of directors. It includes officers from Andover, Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Framingham, Lawrence, Lexington, Marlborough, Medford, Natick, Newton, Somerville and Wayland, and is scheduled to meet four times a year.

The Lexington Police Association, which represents the town’s sergeants and patrol officers, is a member of the group. It shares something with the other 12 police unions: the law office McDonald, Lamond, and Canzoneri represents them all.

“It started out through some cooperation between a few of the different clients I represent,” said Alan McDonald, the MMPC’s labor attorney. “The officers themselves decided that it would be productive, [so] we contacted all the clients that I serve.”

The group was formed in January but held its first meeting in early November, electing a president and board of directors as well as deciding to publicly censure Lexington.

“It gives us a wide range of resources to tap into from the different unions,” Babcock said.

The Lexington Police Association, which had 60 members, now has the support of 740 more members, Babcock added.

Medford Police Patrolman’s Association President Harold MacGilvray was elected to serve as the coalition’s first president on Nov. 7, after being nominated by fellow officers.

“It was probably because I sent out the information to get people together,” MacGilvray said. “But if you think about it, this is a good idea and I was happy to [become president.] Any concept where you can get people to work together towards a common goal is a good one.”

McDonald said the network is not a parent group, and that the officers only come to him for advice.

“It’s all officer-run,” he said. “I’m available as a consultant and I help them coordinate meetings and other logistical [items]. This organization is unlike other statewide organizations, as it does not serve as a parent organization. It instead serves to assist them and promote common efforts to achieve the important goals of each of the locals.”

Rizzo’s dismissal in Lexington gave the MMPC its first chance to act together. Rizzo was fired earlier this month for violating the town’s use of force policy, according to a statement from Town Manager Carl Valente and Police Chief Christopher Casey. The move came after more than 10 months of investigation and testimony from nine witnesses, according to the statement.

Last March, the union went public with its concerns and frustrations with the town’s policing and bargaining policies. The MMPC may soon conduct a public demonstration in Lexington to show its support for Rizzo and the Lexington Police Association.

“[The MMPC] is considering other ways to support the Lexington Police Association though public demonstration or other public means to shed more light on [the situation in Lexington] and to attempt to move it toward a more cooperative and constructive approach to labor relations than [the town] has shown in the past,” McDonald said.

The possible action by the MMPC is not the only development in Rizzo’s case. McDonald said the Lexington Police Association has filed with two different state organizations to protest the town’s dismissal of Rizzo. One appeal is at Civil Service, which claims the firing was unjust under the law, and another is being prepared for the state Labor Relations Commission.

“That contends that [the firing] was a direct result of retaliation for Rizzo’s presidency and advocacy for officers inside the Lexington Police Association,” McDonald said.

McDonald declined a request to release Rizzo’s personal records, citing no desire to litigate through the media.

“We’re quite comfortable with our legal position in both cases, and look forward for the chance to litigate both issues in an objective forum,” he said. “There has not been a fair hearing or fair view yet in the matter; it has all be under the control of the town and slanted in its view.”